Putin ‘mortally wounded’ by coup chaos as UK warned to prepare for regime collapse
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a televised address in Moscow
Reuters
Vladimir Putin has been “mortally wounded” by Friday night’s attempted coup as the United Kingdom prepares for potential regime change.
Putin’s authority in Moscow is reportedly crumbling after the Russian President was challenged by former ally Yevgeny Priogzhin.
A senior UK Government source told The Times: “[Britain] must prepare for a whole range of scenarios”.
The Whitehall insider also suggested events over the weekend could be “Chapter One of something new”.
Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin is now in exile in Belarus
ReutersTory MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, even warned Putin could launch a purge to overcome current instability.
The Rutland MP added: “This is definitely not over. This is not just a power struggle between Putin and Prigozhin.
“It has raised questions about the wholescale stability of the country.
“No one believes that Prigozhin is going to Belarus and live out his life quietly there.
The Wagner Group marched through Rostov-on-Don
Reuters“Putin ... is mortally wounded but I don't think anyone can say Putin is finished. There is nothing more that Putin hates than a traitor.”
The Russian President managed to see off the Wagner Group’s attempted coup following last-minute negotiations with ally-turned-critic Prigozhin.
Around 25,000 mercenary troops moved unimpeded from the Ukrainian border to Rostov-on-Don.
The Wagner Group then advanced to within just 120 miles of Moscow.
Vladimir PutinReutersThe Kremlin announced Prigozhin would head to Belarus in exchange for a pardon from charges of treason.
The deal, which was brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, also provided a multi-million payout in exile.
It is not yet clear if Putin accepted Prigozhin’s demand for Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to be demoted or fired.
Russian MP Andrey Gurulyov, a prominent Kremlin propagandist, claimed there was “no option” but for the Wagner Group chief and other high-profile figures to be executed.
Tory MP Alicia Kearns spoke about the instability at the Kremlin
GB News
The attempted insurrection posed one of the “most significant challenge[s] to the Russian state in recent times”, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) claimed over the weekend.
The MoD also said: “Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia’s security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how the crisis plays out.”
It has since been revealed that Ukraine has been making the most of events in Russia by advancing and gaining momentum in Bakhmut.